Kuntakinte
A name of West African origin roughly meaning "all encompassing one".
Name Census estimates that about 6 living Americans carry the first name Kuntakinte. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Kuntakinte today is around 46 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kuntakinte births was 1977 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kuntakinte. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Kuntakinte. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
6
~ 1 in 57,125,723 Americans
Peak year
1977
6 babies that year
Average age
46
years old
1977 SSA rank
#5,526
Tracked since 1977
Popularity
Kuntakinte: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Kuntakinte by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Kuntakinte during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Kuntakinte
The given name Kuntakinte has its origins in the West African region, particularly in the Mandinka language spoken by the Mandinka people of modern-day Gambia, Guinea, and Senegal. The name is believed to have emerged during the 16th or 17th century, a period marked by the trans-Atlantic slave trade and the forced migration of Africans to the Americas.
The name Kuntakinte is derived from the Mandinka words "kunta," meaning "to be born," and "kinte," which signifies "the skin on one's back" or "the skin of one's back." This combination of words suggests a deeper meaning related to the individual's identity, resilience, and endurance in the face of adversity.
While there are no known historical references to the name Kuntakinte in ancient texts or religious scriptures, the name gained significance and recognition through the character Kunta Kinte in Alex Haley's acclaimed novel "Roots: The Saga of an American Family" published in 1976. The book, later adapted into a television miniseries, chronicled the life of Kunta Kinte, a young Mandinka warrior captured in Gambia and sold into slavery in the American colonies.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Kuntakinte can be found in the writings of the British writer and abolitionist Ignatius Sancho, who lived from 1729 to 1780. Sancho documented his encounters with enslaved Africans and their stories, providing a glimpse into the lives and identities of those forcibly brought to Britain during that era.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the name Kuntakinte or variations of it. One such figure was Kunta Kinteh (c. 1750-1822), a Mandinka man who was captured and enslaved in Maryland, USA. He is remembered for his resistance and resilience, escaping several times before ultimately gaining his freedom.
Another individual of note is Kunta Kinte Holsendorf (1858-1942), a former slave who became a successful businessman and community leader in Louisiana, USA. He actively worked to preserve the history and culture of his African roots.
Additionally, Kunta Kinte Gara (1912-1997), a renowned Gambian historian and scholar, made significant contributions to the study and understanding of the Mandinka culture and the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
Kunta Kinte Kamara (1929-2001), a Gambian diplomat and politician, served as his country's ambassador to several nations and played a crucial role in promoting African unity and cooperation.
Lastly, Kunta Kinteh Island, located in the Gambia River, is named after the historical figure Kunta Kinte, serving as a memorial and reminder of the tragic legacy of the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
People
Kuntakinte + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kuntakinte as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with K
Other first names starting with K with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Kuntakinte: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kuntakinte?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 6 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kuntakinte going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 57,125,723 US residents.
Is Kuntakinte a common name?
We classify Kuntakinte as "Very Rare". It ranks above 22.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 6 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kuntakinte most popular?
The single biggest year for Kuntakinte was 1977, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kuntakinte is about 46 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Kuntakinte in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Kuntakinte a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kuntakinte in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Kuntakinte still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Kuntakinte in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Kuntakinte can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many Americans are named Kuntakinte?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.